Diamondbacks' keys to victory

Published
5:30 am CDT, Saturday, October 27, 2001

KEYS TO VICTORY

No. 1

Pair of aces:Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson have been as good as advertised in the postseason. Schilling is 3-0 with a 0.67 ERA and three complete games. Johnson is 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA and beat Atlanta twice in the National League Championship Series. The Diamondbacks' chances for success get a huge lift if they win a game started by Brian Anderson or Miguel Batista. Both face tough assignments in Games 3 and 4 at Yankee Stadium. If Anderson and Batista lose, manager Bob Brenly could pitch Schilling or Johnson on three days' rest, though he has said he doesn't want to do that.

No. 2

Find an offense: Pitching has carried Arizona, which has won three postseason games in which it scored three runs or less. The Diamondbacks will need a better attack to have a chance at dethroning the Yankees. Arizona hasn't hit much in the playoffs, scoring more than five runs only once while batting .235 as a team. Luis Gonzalez, the top offensive threat during the regular season, must get hot. He is batting .237 with five RBIs in 10 playoff games.

No. 3

Old guard must lead: Many of the Diamondbacks never have played in Yankee Stadium, which can be one of the most intimidating places in sports. The Diamondbacks are a young franchise but field an old lineup. They won 100 games in their second year of existence in 1999 and have been willing to spend the money or make trades to acquire a roster full of veterans. Players such as Johnson, Schilling, Gonzalez, Steve Finley and Mark Grace must take lead roles if the Yankees are to be denied.